The Portland daily press., 1887-01-24
CITY GOVERN MENT.
Amendments to the Portland &
Rochester Bill.
Fixed Term of Service for Police
men.
Proposed Law for the Preservation
OF Ballots.

Proposed Law for the Preservation
of Ballots.
A special meeting Of the City Council wa'
held Saturday evening.
Board Of Mayor and Aldermen.
| Aldermen Wilson, Sawyer, Marks and
Briggs were present, the Mayor in the
chair.
TAXATION OF WATER COMPANIES.
The following order received a PASSAGE
Ordered, that the senators and representatives
frOmth city, In the Legislature of the State, be
requested to use their influence and vote to op
pose the levying Of an annual excise tax on thu
capital stock Of water companies, in lieu OF al
other taxes whatever, and especially to approve
any attempt to deprive towns and cities OF the
right TO tax the real estate of such companies.
If such excise tax Is levied as proposed, then tc
procure the paying over to such towns and cities
where such water companies are situated, Of the
whole amount OF such tax
DANGEROUS EMBANKAIENTs.
A communication from Howard A. Snow.
man, calling attention to dangerous walls
unprotected by top fences, on Monument,
Sheridan and Waterville streets and between
Adams and Fore streets, was referred TO the
committee on streets.
SUBORDINATE CITY OFFICERS.
An order was passed that onr Representa-
tives in the Legislature be instructed to Sc
cure the amendment Of section Of the city
charter relating to the election Of subordi-
nate officers, by securing the passage Of an
act placing the appointment OF weighers,
gaugers and measurers with the Board OF
Mayor and Aldermen, instead Of with the
joint council as at present.
The purpose of this, it was explained, was
IN In 70 "a nj nf
officers, as under the present method vexa-
ti0uS delays arise.
The lower board non-concurring, Alder
men Wilson and Briggs were appointed a
committee OF conference on the part OF this
board. The committee reported inability to
agree, and were discharged.
PRINTING VOTING LISTS.
Alderman Wilson from the committee on
printing the voting lists, reported several
bids. 1t was voted to print the lists, and
the work was awarded to Brown Thurston
& Co., the lowest bidders, for 500.
To an inquiry by Alderman Briggs, wheth-
er there would be any additional expense
besides paying the printer, the city clerk ex-
planned that by law the assessors are re-
quired to provide one written list.
Alderman Marks had noticed that in pre-
lists had been SO some years and S225 in
others.
1t was explained that $50 was the cost Of
single election; where there had been
three elections in Presidential years, the cost
had been three times as much.
\ Alderman Wilson said that convenience
was the chief point. The printed lists could
be read with IHgeh greater ease.
PORTLAND &RoClIEsTER.
It was ordered that the city's Representa-
tives at Augusta be requested to use thelr
influence to amend the bill amendatory OF
the Portland 81 Rochester Railroad charter,
The bill, as introduced in the Senate, Is as
follows:
"The Portland & Rochester Railroad Is hereby
authorized to extend or build branch Of Its rail-
road from point at or near Green street, In Port
land or Deering, thence nOftheasterly across
Back Cove to and crossing Washington street,
thence easterly to a connection with the Grand
Trunk Railway; and TO change the present loca-
u0n OF any OF Its road within the above limits al
so to extend Its road or branch thereof com
mencing at point in the Min Pond on or near the
westerly side Of said Green street, thence wester-
~ to and crossing Grove and st. John streets (;
thence southwesterly to a connection with the
railroad OF the Maine Central Railroad Company
or Boston q Maine Railroad between Portland
and Danforth streets and to locate, construct and
maintain and use each OF the same"
The following amendments were offered:
1-Insert in second line, after the word "au-
thorized, the words subject TO the written CON
sent OF the Board OF Mayor and Aldermen OF the
City Of Portland; and 10 all statutes relating to
Portland barber"
2-Insert in fifth line, after the words Back
Cove the words inside Of the marginal way In
said Portland"
3-Insert in seventh line, after the word 'andp
the words "subject to the same conditions"
4-Insert in the ninth line, after the word "aisov
the words subject TO the written consent Of the
Mayor and Aldermen of Portland, and to all
statutes relating to Portland harbor aforesaid
so that the proposed act will read as follows
"The Portland s. Rochester Railroad is hereby au-
thorized,. subject to the written consent of the
Board of Mayor and Aldermen of the City Of
Portland, and to all statutes relating to Portland
harbor, TO extend or build branch OF its railroad
from point at or near Green street, inPortland
or Deering, thence northeasterly across Back
Cove, inside of the marginal way in said Portland
70 andlcrossing Washington street, thence easter
ly to connection with the Grand Trunk Railway
and subject TO the same conditions, to change the
present location OF any Of It's road within the
above limits; also, subject to the written consent
Of the Mayor and Aldermen Of Portland, and to
all statutes relating to Portland harbor as afore-
said, TO extend its road or branch thereof, COM
meneing at point in the Mill Pond on or near the
westerly side of said Green street, thence wester-
y TO and crossing Grove and St. John streets
thence southwestery to connection with the
or Boston 4 Maine Railroad, between Portland
and Danforth streets, and to locate, construct
and maintain and use each Of the same"
The bill was endorsed by this Board /:
''voted to petition the legislature to amend
the bill of the Portland Il Rochester Rail-
road in accordance with the within the writ
ten provisions" and received concurrent
action from the lower board.
DANGEROUS BUILDINGS.
Alderman Sawyer thought that it was for
the public interests that the Board should
have greater authority over the construction
Of dangerous buildings, and that extra legis-
lation to that effect should be secured. II
was moved to refer the matter to the legisla-
tive committee.
POLICE LAW.
The subject Of procuring amendments Il
| the police law was brought uD. One OF the
proposed amendments is to have the deputy
marshals appointed by the mayor the same
| as the marshal, and the other Is to appoint
| policemen for fixed term.
| The Mayor thought that many advantage.
| would arise for having the police appointed
| Tor terms of five or seven years, eligible L
reappolntment 1t would make the forcI
more efficient by giving chance to retire
would not effect the tenure Of members o.
| the present force, or disturb the operation
Of the civil service competition system.
| Messrs. Wilson and Briggs were chosen
committee to secure the proposed legisla
tion.
PRESERVATION OF BALLOTS.
| Alderman Briggs, on behalf of the com
| mittee appointed to consider the matter o.
| mistakes in the returns of the ward clerks
| said he thought the best way was to hay,
the ballot boxes sealed at the polling place.
and deposited with the city clerk until the
next election, to be opened onlylin case Of dis
| crepancy betweenlthe records and the returns
| III errors appeared, the matter could be set
tied beyond question by opening the boxe
and reeounting the ballots. He instance,
the case in the last election Of Mr. Tolman
whose name was returned as James insteae
of Joseph. Massachusetts had an excellen
statute which might be copied.
Mr.. Marks thought that perhaps the Law
would have to be m de general In tina
case, II the country towns objected, he ia
vored trying to have a special law for Port
lands benefit
Mr. Briggs mentioned q case in Lowell
Mass, recently where a candidate had ma